FiiO Jade Audio JT7 Open Back Planar Headphones - BLACK (Box opened)

The FiiO Jade Audio JT7 is an open-back planar magnetic headphone that brings FiiO’s own 95 × 86mm planar driver to an accessible price. A 3µm diaphragm with FiiO’s F.E.S. elastic system, made with the same 28nm chip-grade process as the flagship FT7, gives detailed, lively sound with fuller bass than most planars. It weighs just 318g, folds for travel, and at 18Ω is easy to drive, with 3.5mm and 4.4mm balanced cables in the box. It is Hi-Res Audio certified.

Why planar?

A dynamic or balanced armature driver pushes the diaphragm from one point. In a planar driver, an electromagnetic force acts across the whole of a light, thin diaphragm, so it moves evenly, virtually eliminating the break-up that dynamic drivers can suffer. The result, as FiiO puts it, is low distortion, superb transient response and a vast soundstage. Planars are complex to make, which usually makes them expensive; the JT7 brings the technology within easier reach.

A 95 × 86mm driver, developed in-house

FiiO developed the JT7’s driver from the ground up, from the diaphragm to the voice coil and magnetic circuit, which keeps the sound consistent from unit to unit. Its large size gives an expansive soundstage and powerful, energetic bass.

3µm diaphragm with F.E.S.

A planar diaphragm has to be extremely thin to respond quickly. The JT7’s is just 3µm, so it captures tiny changes in the signal, for excellent transients and brilliantly clear treble. FiiO’s F.E.S. (FiiO Elastic System) adds multi-dimensional textures to the film, similar to the surround of a dynamic driver. They give the diaphragm an extra dimension to flex in, building elastic force that counteracts internal stress, so it can move further without added distortion: more effortless bass with greater presence.

Chip-grade manufacturing

Like the FP3, FT1 Pro and FT7, the JT7’s driver is made with a 28nm chip-grade process derived from high-precision plating in the semiconductor industry. The voice coil and diaphragm become one seamless piece, with extremely fine coil wiring, a stronger structure and a longer life.

Strong magnets for easy driving

Two-way heterogeneous neodymium-iron-boron magnets create a powerful field that gives the JT7 a sensitivity of 92dB/mW, so it sounds loud and full even from modest sources. FiiO’s own advice: with its 18Ω impedance, portable devices with more than 500mW of balanced output, such as the KA15, KA17, QX13, BTR17, M21, DM13 or DM15 R2R, drive it well from their balanced outputs. For stronger, fuller bass, use a desktop amp such as the K11 R2R or K7.

Light, foldable and comfortable

At 318g, the JT7 is much lighter than typical planar headphones, so long sessions stay comfortable, and it folds into a compact shape to store at home or carry when travelling. The headband rotates on four axes so the earcups follow the shape of your head, for both comfort and accurate sound. Where they touch your skin, the ear pads use a soft, highly breathable mesh that reduces heat, and both the pads and the headband cushion are removable for cleaning or replacement.

Built to last

The hinges are made from high-strength fibreglass rather than ordinary plastic. FiiO put them through tens of thousands of expansion, twisting, swinging, bending and tensile tests, including more than 10,000 expansion and twisting cycles and a tensile load of over 5kg.

Two cables included

The cable detaches, with dual 3.5mm connectors on the headphones. You get a 3.5mm single-ended cable and a 4.4mm balanced cable, plus a 6.35mm adapter for desktop amplifiers.

Good to know

• Open-back: sound leaks in and out, so the JT7 suits quiet rooms rather than commutes. For a closed-back option, see the FiiO FT13.
• In the box: JT7 headphones, 3.5mm cable, 4.4mm cable, 6.35mm (male) to 3.5mm (female) adapter, storage pouch and quick start guide.